MEETING THE CHALLENGE
Taking on more trusteeships It is almost a year now since the Fellowship Property Trust (FIEC’s trusteeship service) wrote to all 180 churches, where they had acted as trustee, to say they would not be continuing their trusteeship services. Most of the churches have set up (or are in the process of setting up) new charities so their properties can be transferred to these new charities. The remainder have been pointed in the direction of Church Growth Trust (CGT), as CGT is uniquely placed to help such independent evangelical churches. “This is a challenge for us” says Giles Arnold, CGT’s Chief Executive, “as we are trying to deal with this large group of new trusteeships, alongside other independent evangelical churches that are asking for our help”. Over the last year, he has reviewed 53 sets of property deeds and visited 35 churches around the country, to discuss their situation and the options that are available to them. Giles continues, “We are making good progress and have established a great working relationship with Jonathan Bond of the Fellowship Property Trust (FPT) and their solicitors, who are thrashing out each case with our solicitor Kevin Allard of Ellis-Fermor & Negus. So far, we have transferred three properties into CGT’s beneficial ownership and six holding trusteeships, but there is lots more to do, as we have 23 churches that have decided to use CGT’s services and at least
eight that have yet to make a decision”. The legal work is painstaking, as FPT and CGT have to ensure they are fulfilling the aims of the original trusts, whilst also sticking within the Charity Commission’s regulations. In addition to the legal work, where a property is to be owned or held by CGT as sole managing trustee, Church Growth Trust’s Architect carries out a survey of the property to report on what repairs are required, what compliance issues need to be dealt with and how the property could be improved to make it more suitable for modern church use. This report is shared with the church to help them think through these issues. Every trusteeship situation is different, and the churches really appreciate being given hands-on and easy to understand advice about their options, so they can make an informed decision. For those that decide to use CGT’s services, they are already benefiting from CGT’s pro-active approach and the resources that are available to them. As one trustee stated, “It gives us comfort to know there is someone to turn to who understands our needs and has the expertise to help”. Garryl Willis, CGT’s Operations Director says, “For Church Growth Trust this is mission fulfilment, as this fits with CGT’s strategic objective of safeguarding independent church properties for future Gospel use. We look forward to welcoming many other independent evangelical churches onboard and to working with them in the future”. 9
